I don't think I've ever openly cried for any characters from a book the way I did with this one. "Rooftops of Tehran" is a poignant book that absorbedI don't think I've ever openly cried for any characters from a book the way I did with this one. "Rooftops of Tehran" is a poignant book that absorbed me completely. I actually had to put it down for a bit as things became very intense when Zari's actions turn the tide in such a shocking way. I love Ahmed's character and that he is Pasha's best friend. I adore Pasha's emotions and thoughts on Zari. Even Pasha's father and his stories and the quirks of his mother endeared to me. I longed to be a part of the dialogue that took place on the rooftops every night. I laughed when they laughed, cried at their losses, fumed at the injustices of their society--this was just an incredible read.

Some beautiful, quotable moments for me include:

"Faheemah is watching us, knowing full well that a seventeen-year-old boy has taken his first step toward becoming a man, and in the process has made her feel more like a woman than all the aunts, uncles, and formalities of the night before. If she must marry a man her parents have chosen for her, at least she knows that she is loved by someone with enough courage to defy tradition."

"I wish I had the courage to tell them about myself and Zari, but love is a private matter, and the vault of the heart is not to be opened lightly, nor the treasure of love exposed. I always wondered why, despite our passionate spirit as a nation whose poetry is filled with declarations of love, our reality is one of guarded emotions when it comes to members of the opposite sex."

"That's the way of the Persians--we are masters in the art of implication, sometimes at the cost of the point getting lost on an unsophisticated listener. Facts seldom matter. The meaning and the message are always woven into the fabric of our discourse. 'Deep in each knot of a Persian rug is a statement of the hands that patiently drove the needle and the thread,' I once heard my father say."

"'I'd rather be in hell with you than without you in heaven....'"...more

You know, I was okay with this being a fantasy-romance novel and all, but the naivety of the heroine and her love interest really started to grate onYou know, I was okay with this being a fantasy-romance novel and all, but the naivety of the heroine and her love interest really started to grate on my nerves as the ill-fated lovers tumbled into one another again and again leaving her breathless. It was kind of obnoxious how there were so many references to what a great beauty the priestess was and how all the men seemed to want her--it was almost over done in this book and that's the only thing that really bothered me. Aside from that, I do so much enjoy learning about the shape mages and how their magics are affected by their skill with certain shapes and colors. I thoroughly appreciate the depth Asaro gives to her cultures and the land of Aronsdale. I enjoyed exploring Taka Mal with the main character....more

This book was a quick read and it was pretty over-the-top. I understand that every inhabitant of Aronsdale is an ethereally beautiful being, even theThis book was a quick read and it was pretty over-the-top. I understand that every inhabitant of Aronsdale is an ethereally beautiful being, even the "bad" guys always have some kind of redeeming quality because they are described as good-looking, but it is now starting to get old. And fast. As much as I truly love following these characters across the generations and learning how their family trees have expanded, there were simply more descriptions about Allegra's nipples than anything else in this book. I'm not kidding. It's not the fact that there is sex and torture in this book, I can accept that; it's just that there is an overabundance of it and the plot (watered down and convoluted as it was) doesn't truly reveal itself until Chapter 14. There are 29 chapters in the book. I kind of feel compelled to hide this book on my book shelf. It was such a tacky read, even for it's genre. I appreciated the earlier books in this series and reading more about the magical aspects of Aronsdale. This one didn't have much of an emphasis on the mages and I kind of missed that. I was pretty disappointed with this book. ...more

One of my favorite books will always be the dictionary, so I was delighted to learn of this one in particular. Ever since I was in high school and myOne of my favorite books will always be the dictionary, so I was delighted to learn of this one in particular. Ever since I was in high school and my English IV teacher accused my friend and me of enjoying "thesaurus orgies" whenever we had to write anything, I've always been on the hunt for more verbal pepper to spice up my vocabulary....more

I'm not going to rate this book because I honestly can't remember if I finished reading this one or if I'm thinking of the book "Arthur" by the same aI'm not going to rate this book because I honestly can't remember if I finished reading this one or if I'm thinking of the book "Arthur" by the same author of the same series. Hmmm....more

This book is so insightful into what makes people fear art and art-making. This book has a permanent spot on my desk at school where I teach art. I woThis book is so insightful into what makes people fear art and art-making. This book has a permanent spot on my desk at school where I teach art. I would recommend this read to anyone who has ever faltered at the idea of making art and to anyone who has ever doubted their abilities. ...more

This book contains the beautiful lyrics of Tori Amos' earlier music until Choirgirl Hotel. The artwork inside of the book that accompanies some of theThis book contains the beautiful lyrics of Tori Amos' earlier music until Choirgirl Hotel. The artwork inside of the book that accompanies some of the lyrics is so beautiful that it makes me want to begin drawing again. Together, the words and the visuals are incredibly complementary....more

I enjoyed the journey I was given through the forests of the Asrai of Athel Loren. The descriptions were beautiful and the forest was every bit the waI enjoyed the journey I was given through the forests of the Asrai of Athel Loren. The descriptions were beautiful and the forest was every bit the way I imagined it to be. The book was an easy read and was not filled with too much political talk. I didn't get lost in the web of characters and intrigue like I did in the Sundering series. I appreciated the author's vocabulary, however, there was a definite overuse of the word "exultation." ...more

This book is useful to people who simply like to look at and think about or even make art. It is also useful to a parent or a teacher as it explains tThis book is useful to people who simply like to look at and think about or even make art. It is also useful to a parent or a teacher as it explains the thought-processes of a child and their reactions to art as they mature. Fascinating stuff. Easy read and very insightful....more

I was a little confused and somewhat bored reading the dark elven lore in this book, but maybe that is because I read the "High Elves" codex first andI was a little confused and somewhat bored reading the dark elven lore in this book, but maybe that is because I read the "High Elves" codex first and much of the history is repetitive. I read this codex coupled with the "High Elf" codex to hopefully glean some alternating perspectives on the history of Ulthuan so as to better enhance my role playing experience in Warhammer. This book did not sway me over to the persuasion of the dark elves, did not convince me of their purpose, unfortunately, but I do understand what happened better now....more

Surprisingly, for a trade book purchased at a junior high book fair, I really became engrossed in this book. This books supports all things I love aboSurprisingly, for a trade book purchased at a junior high book fair, I really became engrossed in this book. This books supports all things I love about "choose your own adventure" genres. The main character is a girl (kudos for that) playing a virtual reality RPG that she has to win on her own to be able to exit from, for if she is manually removed from the game she could suffer possible brain damage. I loved seeing the many options acted out that she could follow in the game and how a wrong choice would mean she had to start all over again. Some parts of the book were funny--not hilarious--but I did chuckle to myself on a few occasions. I thought the puzzles that she had to solve throughout the game were clever and I found the book very informative on medieval affairs (from matters of state to battlement descriptions). Some of the vocabulary and dialogue used in this book were well written. ...more

Thanks to my high school English IV teacher, she selected this book for me to read as part of our reading assignment for one of our six weeks gradingThanks to my high school English IV teacher, she selected this book for me to read as part of our reading assignment for one of our six weeks grading periods. Thanks to this book, I discovered that I am a lover of all medieval-fantasy themed books. I love the era, the clothing, and the characters and their moralities as they are described in "Ivanhoe." I do regret that I no longer have my high school review of this book. I am sure it is time for me to eventually re-read this book and see if I love it as much now as I remember liking it then....more

I love this book and all of its "vulgarities" as someone commented, but then I just love a twisted and dark faery tale. I'm re-reading it after havingI love this book and all of its "vulgarities" as someone commented, but then I just love a twisted and dark faery tale. I'm re-reading it after having somehow misplaced it many years ago. I've always loved stories about Persephone and Demeter and though this is about Snow White, it also complements the original mythological tale about the Goddess of Springtime and the Lord of the Underworld. I like the religious comparison of the 7 dwarves to the 7 deadly sins. There are a lot of "pagan" elements to this book, as well as sex and hypocrisy and vanity is explored within the hearts of the two leading female characters. This is definitely not a book for people do not want to read about rape, because the main character is raped early on in the book and the act is described in a dark poetic way, though still quite graphic.

Sometimes the book is hard to read and very hard to follow, especially when reading the passages about the queen and her looking glass and the moon...the book itself seems to have its own inner dialogue going on at times that only the author can truly decipher. Sometimes passages are lost upon me, but it flows consistently and poetically in a very dark way. ...more

Some of the stories interested me and others did not and felt excessively prolonged. My favorite was "A Minor Mood" as it perfectly described the nuanSome of the stories interested me and others did not and felt excessively prolonged. My favorite was "A Minor Mood" as it perfectly described the nuances I remember when I was once a member of the marching band surrounded by the scents, sights, and sounds of the university band room. Some of the stories read a little crass, but that is due to the perspective of the character telling the story and only reflects the author's ability to spin a story well. While I do appreciate the author's vocabulary and way with words, I simply could not get into the subjects and places at times. Sometimes there was a little too much reminiscing taking place leading up to one singular action or event before the short story ended. Not a bad read, just not completely my style....more

I love books about magic and King Arthur, Lancelot, Morgan Le Fey, and Merlin. My high school teacher suggested I read this book for our English IV clI love books about magic and King Arthur, Lancelot, Morgan Le Fey, and Merlin. My high school teacher suggested I read this book for our English IV class and it, along with "Ivanhoe" really turned me on to the medieval-fantasy type genre. Wonderful read!...more